Forward caps family legacy in Bruin basketball

Jakob Hartsock can’t remember the beginning of the legacy that bears his last name.

But, he wrote the final chapter.

The basketball dynamo is one of a handful of future NCAA athletes who belong to the Bartlesville High School Class of 2013.

Hartsock averaged nearly 20 points and nine rebounds during a blockbuster senior campaign that capped 18 seasons since his oldest brother Daniel made the Bruin varsity.

In-between Daniel and Jakob, three other Hartsock brothers also helped define the Bruins’ basketball fortunes for nearly a decade.

But, Hartsock’s basketball career is far from through.

He’s signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Brigham Young University. But, the Cougars will have to wait a couple of years until Jakob shows up on campus.

He’s making a little two-year detour to serve a mission, in western Nevada, for his church.

“I know there are a lot of people out there who are having a hard time,” Hartsock explained in an interview last week, prior to departing for his mission. “I just want to help change people’s lives.”

Following his religious sabbatical, Hartsock is looking forward — with great anticipation — at playing college ball.

“To be viewed as a D-I athlete is awesome,” he said. “It’s awesome just to know I’m playing college ball. I know a lot of good players who are not able to do that.”

The 6-foot-8 Hartsock, who was a three-year varsity starter, is set to become the fourth member of the family to play college basketball. Brother Noah spent the better part of the past year playing European pro basketball.

But, despite the achievements of his older brothers — and their lone sister, Johanna, who was an All-State volleyball player at Bartlesville — Jakob said he never was obsessed with trying to duplicate what his older siblings achieved.

He focused on carving out his own legacy.

“I just wanted to represent myself anyway I could and try to be the best I could on the court and off the court,” he said.

He seldom was better on the court than Dec. 29, 2012, when the Bruins took on Texas powerhouse Wichita Falls Hirschi.

Hartsock erupted that game for 34 points to lead the Bruins to a character-proving 75-70 victory.

It would be the only 30-point output this year for the Bruins.

“Before we played them, we had an opportunity to watch them play,” Hartsock said. “They had a high reputation. We got into that game and we were nervous. I could tell coach (Tim) Bart was a little nervous. But, he had faith we would win it. We got the ‘W’, something we weren’t expected.”

Displaying his commitment to excellence, Hartsock also wryly remembered the aftermath of a two-point win, on Jan. 3, 2012, against heavy underdog Tulsa NOAH, as a memorable experience.

“We had a really (with heavy emphasis on the word really) tough practice the next day, but we got better,” Hartsock said. “That was a good memory. It was a tough practice and it got us better. I learned something from that.”

It’s hard to mention the name Hartsock and Bruin basketball without including Bart.

Four of the brothers played for him after he became the Bruin head coach in the 2000-01 season.

Every one of Bart’s five teams that went to the state tourney between 2002-2012, had a Hartsock on the roster.

“I’d say coach Bart taught me how to be strong-minded,” Hartsock said. “He taught us how to take criticism and turn it into a positive thing. He would always say something that would help us.

“He taught us how to be strong.”

Asked what he hopes Bart will remember him for, Hartsock hopes “he says ‘Jakob Hartsock is a good person, a good teammate and a good player.’ Also, I hope he could say he enjoyed having me on the team and enjoyed the person I’ve become.”

Hartsock isn’t the only member of his family leaving town. His parents already have set in motion a permanent move to the west coast. Even though he likely won’t be coming again to live in Bartlesville, Hartsock remains profoundly appreciative for the only home he’s ever known.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to grow up in Bartlesville,” he said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity I had to be a Bruin. If not, I wouldn’t have played for my coach. I’m grateful for the opportunity to play for coach Bart.”

Although Hartsock’s natural education in basketball — by his dad and brothers — started at an early age and he sprouted up to 80 inches, it doesn’t mean he hasn’t had his challenges.